Assembly for tightly covering an elongate member with a protective elastic tubular body

Abstract

The assembly includes a protective elastic tubular body and a tubular core for holding the tubular body expanded including a first part and a second part which are associated, the core being in an operating position in which the second part covers the first part, and being configured for an elongate member to be inserted into its internal space in operating position and for a pull then applied to the first part to make it slide relative to the second part to reach an extended position in which it can no longer move in relation to the second part; the second part including legs projecting axially from a collar and connected to each other exclusively by the collar; in the operating position the collar and legs surround the first part; and in the extended position the collar surrounds the first part and the legs are axially beyond the first part.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An assembly for tightly covering an elongate member ( 13 ) of predetermined dimensions with a protective elastic tubular body ( 11 ) with at least one open end ( 14 ), the assembly comprising:
 said elastic tubular body ( 11 ); and 
 a tubular core ( 12 ) holding said elastic tubular body ( 11 ), 
 the core ( 12 ) comprising a first part ( 20 ) and a second part ( 21 ) associated with the first part ( 20 ), 
 the core ( 12 ) having an internal space, 
 the core ( 12 ) having an operating position in which the second part ( 21 ) externally covers the first part ( 20 ) with the first part ( 20 ) being accessible by the at least one open end ( 14 ) of the elastic tubular body ( 11 ), 
 the core ( 12 ) having an opening that, in the operating position of the core ( 12 ), accepts insertion of the elongate member ( 13 ) into the internal space of the core ( 12 ), 
 wherein, with the elongate member ( 13 ) in the internal space of the core ( 12 ), a pulling force applied in a pulling direction on the first part ( 20 ) of the core ( 12 ) by the at least one open end ( 14 ) of the elastic tubular body ( 11 ) causes the first part ( 20 ) to slide relative to the second part ( 21 ) in an axial movement to reach an extended position of the core ( 12 ) in which the first part ( 20 ) can no longer move relative to the second part ( 21 ) in the pulling direction, 
 wherein the second part ( 21 ) comprises a collar ( 22 ) and legs ( 23 ) axially projecting from the collar ( 22 ), the legs ( 23 ) being connected to each other exclusively by the collar ( 22 ), and 
 wherein, i) in the operating position of the core ( 12 ), the collar ( 22 ) and the legs ( 23 ) surround the first part ( 20 ); and ii) in the extended position, the collar ( 22 ) surrounds the first part ( 20 ) and the legs ( 23 ) extend axially beyond the first part ( 20 ). 
 
     
     
       2. The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first part ( 20 ) and the second part ( 21 ) of the core ( 12 ) are of molded plastics material and are associated with each other by snap engagement. 
     
     
       3. The assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein in at least one of said legs ( 23 ) there is formed, on an inner side thereof, an axially oriented groove ( 31 ) and said first part ( 20 ) comprises a tab ( 27 ), said tab ( 27 ) being slideable along said groove ( 31 ). 
     
     
       4. The assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein an end of said groove ( 31 ) by said collar ( 22 ) is a closed end, said tab ( 27 ) coming into contact with the closed end of said groove ( 31 ) in the extended position. 
     
     
       5. The assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said first part ( 20 ) and said second part ( 21 ) comprise members ( 29 ,  32 ) that verify proper assembly of the first part ( 20 ) and of the second part ( 21 ). 
     
     
       6. The assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said second part ( 21 ) is deformable on account of the legs ( 23 ) being acted upon by the elastic tubular body ( 11 ) after the core ( 12 ) has been brought from the operating position to the extended position, mainly by pivoting of the legs ( 23 ). 
     
     
       7. The assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said protective elastic tubular body is a cap ( 11 ) with a closed end ( 15 ) opposite to said at least one open end ( 14 ). 
     
     
       8. The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein in at least one of said legs ( 23 ) there is formed, on an inner side thereof, an axially oriented groove ( 31 ) and said first part ( 20 ) comprises a tab ( 27 ), said tab ( 27 ) being slideable along said groove ( 31 ). 
     
     
       9. The assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein an end of said groove ( 31 ) by said collar ( 22 ) is a closed end, said tab ( 27 ) coming into contact with the closed end of said groove ( 31 ) in the extended position. 
     
     
       10. The assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein said collar ( 22 ) comprises in at least one portion situated between two of said legs ( 23 ), on an inner side of said collar ( 22 ), another groove ( 32 ) which is open at both ends thereof, said tab ( 27 ) being slideable along said another groove ( 32 ) from one end to the other end, said first part ( 20 ) and said second part ( 21 ) being slideable relative to each other until said tab ( 27 ) is located out of said groove ( 32 ) between two of said legs ( 23 ) which are neighboring, such that forcing an angular movement of the first part ( 20 ) and of the second part ( 21 ) relative to each other causes said tab ( 27 ) to enter said groove ( 31 ) provided in said at least one of said legs ( 23 ). 
     
     
       11. The assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein said first part ( 20 ) comprises a hollow barrel ( 25 ) in the form of a tube having said tab ( 27 ) projecting relative to an outside general surface ( 28 ) thereof. 
     
     
       12. The assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said collar ( 22 ) comprises in at least one portion situated between two of said legs ( 23 ), on an inner side of said collar ( 22 ), another groove ( 32 ) which is open at both ends thereof, said tab ( 27 ) being slideable along said another groove ( 32 ) from one end to the other end, said first part ( 20 ) and said second part ( 21 ) being slideable relative to each other until said tab ( 27 ) is located out of said groove ( 32 ) between two of said legs ( 23 ) which are neighboring, such that forcing an angular movement of the first part ( 20 ) and of the second part ( 21 ) relative to each other causes said tab ( 27 ) to enter said groove ( 31 ) provided in said at least one of said legs ( 23 ). 
     
     
       13. The assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said first part ( 20 ) comprises a hollow barrel ( 25 ) in the form of a tube having said tab ( 27 ) projecting relative to an outside general surface ( 28 ) thereof. 
     
     
       14. The assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said first part ( 20 ) comprises a hollow barrel ( 25 ) in the form of a tube having said tab ( 27 ) projecting relative to an outside general surface ( 28 ) thereof. 
     
     
       15. The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said first part ( 20 ) and said second part ( 21 ) comprise members ( 29 ,  32 ) that verify proper assembly of the first part ( 20 ) and of the second part ( 21 ). 
     
     
       16. The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said second part ( 21 ) is deformable on account of the legs ( 23 ) being acted upon by the elastic tubular body ( 11 ) after the core ( 12 ) has been brought from the operating position to the extended position, mainly by pivoting of the legs ( 23 ). 
     
     
       17. The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said protective elastic tubular body is a cap ( 11 ) with a closed end ( 15 ) opposite to said at least one open end ( 14 ). 
     
     
       18. The assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein, in a natural state, said cap ( 11 ) successively comprises, from the at least one open end ( 14 ) to the closed end ( 15 ), a first part ( 16 ) of uniform diameter, a second flared part ( 17 ) with a diameter which increases from the first part ( 16 ) and a third part ( 18 ) which is domed with a concave face on the inner side thereof.